University Senate Approval

If either of the degrees students will earn in a dual degree program is at the master's or doctoral level, the proposal requires the approval of the University Senate. If both lead to a bachelor's degree, a Senate review is not necessary.

The Senate's review of the proposal, when it is required, is conducted by its Education Committee.

The Committee establishes a subcommittee at one of its meetings to review the proposal and report back to the full Committee at a subsequent meeting. As part of its review, the subcommittee may discuss the proposal with the faculty sponsors of the proposed program.

After receiving the subcommittee’s report, the full Education Committee discusses the proposal and votes on whether to recommend it to the full University Senate.

Proposals that receive an affirmative vote in the Education Committee are forwarded to the Executive Committee of the University Senate for consideration at the next plenary meeting of the full Senate.

The Senate and its Education Committee meet monthly between September and April. Since it takes at least two months for them to complete their reviews, and sometimes more, departments and schools should send their proposals to the Vice Provost for Academic Programs as early in the academic year as possible. The closer to April the Vice Provost receives a proposal, the greater the likelihood that the Senate will not approve the new program until the following academic year.